Financial Hardship to Financial Freedom
with Jill Castilla, CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond
Trusting God with Your Broken Dreams
What do you do when your dreams shatter? Many of us easily fall into fear and question God’s goodness. However, God sometimes allows our plans to fail because of His love for us.
On this episode of Relentless Hope, Jill Castilla shares her story of overcoming shocking obstacles and financial hardships while on her journey to finding God’s will for her. Let’s learn from her story how we can surrender control to Him.
Words of Hope:
“God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.”
- Max Lucado
LIFE
In part 1 of this 3-part series, Jill reveals that life’s obstacles are often divine guidance and protection from God. After serving her country in the military, Jill was eager to start college, but she discovered a family member had stolen her car and most of her savings. This event had her questioning, ‘Why me?’ However, God was faithful in turning things around for her.
Challenges test our faith, but they refine us and bring us closer to God. The instances that seem the hardest, and even those that bring us shame, are the moments that shape us into who we are.
LEADERSHIP
In part 2 of Relentless Hope, Jill reveals how she learned to believe in God’s guidance and embrace His perfect plan for her life. She also speaks of her quiet leadership style, which gradually earned respect, and people began to follow her lead.
Jill believes leadership should be about the collective good, inspiring others to grow and rallying teams towards a goal, leading with hope and vision rather than merely reacting to crises.
LEGACY
In part 3, Jill shares her desire to leave a legacy by making impactful contributions to her community, not through personal recognition.
She believes there is power in sharing our stories, including our struggles and triumphs, as they can inspire others. She also emphasizes the importance of listening to others’ stories. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we can always find a way to connect with others. When we seek to understand each other, we strengthen our collective wisdom and awareness, feeding directly into our aspiration to better the world and leave a significant legacy.
Scripture to reflect on:
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
- Proverbs 16:9
Closing prayer for Jill’s story:
Dear Lord, sometimes it’s hard to understand Your plans. I know You are guiding and protecting me, but sometimes doubt creeps into my heart. Please help me release these fears so I may feel Your divine guidance and protection surrounding me, filling my heart with love and faith. In Jesus’ Name, amen.Jill’s story reminds us that God is always with us, guiding and protecting us, even when we don’t understand His ways. When we trust Him and remain faithful amid adversity, we can rest assured God has everything in order.
We’d love to hear how this story impacted you or related to your testimony. Please share in the comments below!